Tim Morfoot question

Tim,
I figured you'd be the one to ask since you're involved with aircraft. I've got a old 14' Alumacraft I want to someday restore. Short of buffing, what is used on aircraft to "brighten" aluminum? I know there's a marine product out there called "Toonbright" that claims to restore but I've never used it or know of anyone who has. How "bright" can you get the old aluminum with chemicals?

Pete, I don't think that there is a chemical out there that will polish aluminum. In the 20+ years that I've been at Delta I'm haven't seen such a chemical. We used to have an exterior cleanin dept that would have to buff the bottom of the aircraft and her flight control surfaces when it came in for an extended visit. Those guys would have to use these heavy buffers and spend hours doing it.
We have different tanks that we use to treat metals to protect against corrosion but nothing to make it shine. I'm pretty sure the DC-3 that Delta bought and restored back to her glory days is polished the old fashion way. BUFFING! Sorry I can't be more help. Give me call if you got any more questions.. 770-316-6963

Pete, been sitting round in the garage (doing a brake job) pondering your ?. I used to work in the cleaning shop before I became a mechanic and we did have a tank of Phosphoric(?)or Nitric(?) acid that we used to dip the aluminum wing panels in before returning them to the A/C for inspection/reinstallation. When you finished fabricating any repair out of aluminum you went to the cleaning shop to dip it in that tank before you alodined it. From there it went to the paint shop for a shot of zinc-chromate primer. ( They're using an aluminized primer now.)
I'd be willing to bet that Toonbrite is nothing more than phosphoric/nitric acid watered down with some other stuff. After the stuff is applied you'll see the oxidation start, and it looks like the top of your favorite draft beer right out of the tap. Give it a minute or so to foam up real good to eat off the scuzz then rinse it with a water hose. I will tell you that if you leave it on too long the alumninum will turn black and you'll have to scrub it with scotch brite to get it off. Welds will turn black first so be careful. Let us know how it turns out.

Busch's Aluminum polish

Pete my buddy Mark swears by this stuff and he has two tricked out blown BBC in his 380 Nortec to keep nice and shinny. He says it cleans super easy to a near polished look with little effort and it last quite a long time too. Pretty sure you have to get it online though.

8122pbrainard wrote: I'll get a bottle of the Toon bright and see what it does then report back. I do not want to buff! First, the work to do it and maintain it but more important is the fact that the Alumacrafts didn't come buffed. All the aluminum boats if not painted came through with the natural "mill" finish which is that white color rather than the buffed "chrome" look.

you really should try busch's polish, it takes very little effort to get a mirror like finish without using a polisher.

It's simular to eagle one never dull but in a liquid form.

Pete,    Be very careful when using acid.

Someone told me a long time ago, acid is like a woman.

With either, a really good one will eat right through your pants!



AT

Thanks Mark.

Tim,
Thanks, It looks like what I'm looking for. I did some searching and got more info plus available here in the states.

"Alumiprep 33 is a nonflammable phosphoric acid based cleaner, brightener, and pre-paint conditioner for aluminum. Cleaning with Alumiprep 33 produces a chemically clean and corrosion free aluminum surface."